Torbay, Devon. — During a severe N.W. gale on the morning of the 23rd January, 1939, the auxiliary ketch St.

Helens, of London, broke from her moorings in Brixham Outer Harbour and drove ashore on the beach near the life-boat station. A motor trawler got her off the beach, but both vessels went aground on the breakwater. During the evening the life-boat coxswain, who was on the breakwater, was hailed by the eight men on board the St. Helens.

Two were her own crew and the other six were from the trawler, and were attempting to salve the St. Helens.

They had no boat in which to land, and no rockets on board with which to attract attention, and their position was dangerous. The motor life-boat George Shee was launched at 8.40 P.M., towed the St. Helens into harbour, and returned to her station at 9.10 P.M.— Property Salvage Case..